vintageHIWATTconvention.com

...not to be confused with "Flux Capacitor".

FWIW---

Ted Weber told me that most of the Fanes he's reconed over the years have measured 12000 - 13000, closer to the Celestions they were copying at the time. He's of the opinion that Fane stretched the numbers for marketing purposes... kind of like horsepower for cars back then.

DR could have used Celestions if he wanted. There is just no way that the HIWATT Fanes were meant to copy any celestion. I have to disagree with Ted's theory.

There is a marked difference in the weight of a Fane 122231(14,000G) and 122142(17,000G) that is due to the magnets.

Dr.HIWATT wrote:There is a marked difference in the weight of a Fane 122231(14,000G) and 122142(17,000G) that is due to the magnets.

That's how the topic came up - I noticed that my 14000 gauss Fane has a slightly smaller/lighter magnet than the 50 oz. magnet on my 50 watt Thames. I was asking Ted if the Thames is closer to the 17000 gauss version.

I suppose it's possible that Fane started out copying the Celestion format and ended up with something new/different/better due to their collaboration with DR.

To my knowledge Fane was more of a High end speaker than Celestion ever was. The goal for HIWATT was to be Superior to every other amp out there. More reliable, durable, tonally flexible etc. etc.

A comment suggesting that Fane was trying to copy a celestion is lunacy.

Dr.HIWATT wrote:The goal for HIWATT was to be Superior to every other amp out there. More reliable, durable, tonally flexible etc. etc.

You're preaching to the choir here, bro.

HIWATT, for sure.

But wasn't Celestion the first to make guitar speakers? I'm not saying Fane was second class by any measure, just that it's possible they borrowed from the Celestion format (cone size, magnet, etc.) and developed it into something new/better. Obviously there are differences, i.e. voice coil diameter.

And aren't the HIWATT Fanes a little different than the Fane's standard product of the time, due to DR working with them on a HIWATT-spec speaker?

FWIW YMMV IMHO blah blah

I am not sure which company got into guitar amp speakers first. I haven't researched anything prior to the fanes used in the late 1960's.

It sounds like Ted is drawing from his own experience and relates everything to a celestion.????????? Sounds like some other guys I know.

AFAIK the Celestion Blue was the first - originally a radio speaker.

Now, be nice to Ted. I already invited him to attend the Convention.

mikhailwatt wrote:AFAIK the Celestion Blue was the first - originally a radio speaker.

Now, be nice to Ted. I already invited him to attend the Convention.

I will be nice!

but saying that Fane just copied celestion is like saying that Rush copied the Monkeys!

Dr.HIWATT wrote:but saying that Fane just copied celestion is like saying that Rush copied the Monkeys!

What? You're saying they DIDN'T ???

One factor not mentioned is that magnets lose power over time. Not sure if that would explain Ted's Flux Density readings or not.

I do know that the 14,000 F.D. Fanes I took down to "Dr. Fane's Home for the Rehabilitation of Wayward Speakers" were substantially lighter than the 17,000 F.D. Fanes I returned home with. All were cast frames, BTW.

And here I thought JBL built the first (premium) guitar speaker .

Dave

Crap. I thought Jensen did!

Dr.HIWATT wrote:Rush copied the Monkeys!

Hey, this is starting to get personal!

But it's sadly true. If you listen to "2112 - The Temples of Syrinx" backwards you will plainly hear "I'm A Believer".

OldSchoolDave wrote:And here I thought JBL built the first (premium) guitar speaker

All I know for certain is my very first "premium guitar speaker" was a RadioShack 8" woofer. Vintage '78... probably a collectors item now.

Nahh, DR just used Fane because they would extend him a line of credit.

I'm with OSD, I think JBL was the first, but I agree with CC that Fane was a higher quality product then most of the stamped-frame Celestions available at that time.

--mark